Both countries reviewed ties on Monday in Yaounde, and highlighted new perspectives to fortify relations between Cameroon and India.
This was during the 3rd session of the Cameroon-India Inter-governmental Consultation. The Minister of External Relations, MINREX, Mbella Mbella chaired the session, with the Indian Additional Secretary for Central and West Africa and head of the Delegation, Sevala Naik Mude. Both diplomatic heads were flanked by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of relations with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, the Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon and other diplomats.
The parties orbited discussions on trade and commerce, mining, healthcare, defence and security, development partnership, people-to-people linkage and judicial cooperation“I can assure you that my country, Cameroon, intends to instill fresh impetus to move our cooperation to a higher and strategic level,” Minister Mbella Mbella said in his speech of the day.
Speaking earlier, Sevala Naik Muden said “India regards Cameroon as an important partner for our enhanced engagement for the entire Africa. “I would like to see that both countries move forward with a global vision, peace, stability and prosperity based on sustainable and inclusive development,” Muden added. He said both parties will work together to take the cooperation to the next rung. “I am glad to know that the ties between both countries are growing,” the Indian diplomat said. “I hope there is a new potential to achieve new heights. I am confident that given the opportunities available, more investments will come from India. I am also hopeful that we will jointly explore the potentials to provide more momentum to bilateral trade,” he added. He declared India “a reliable partner of Cameroon in its development journey”. It should be recalled that it is the third time the Cameroon-India Inter-governmental consultation is taking place. Maiden consultations held in Yaounde in 2003. The second took place in New Delhi, India in 2008.
Ties Have Borne Fruits
In September 2022, the State of Cameroon got a loan of over FCFA 23 billion from Eximbank-India to redo the water distribution network in the city. The project constitutes the laying of 348 km of pipes and connecting 29,248 units to the distribution network. After years of delay, Yaoundé could finally be supplied with an additional 300,000 cubic meters of water daily from the treatment plant. This will add to the 100,000 cubic metres of water currently supplied to the city from the Akmonyada treatment plant. This was far below the needs of the city, and led to water rationing in Yaoundé.
Jude VIBAN
